Army CIO steps down

Lt. Gen. Susan Lawrence is retiring after 41 years of Army service, including more than two years as the service’s chief information officer.

"When I stepped into the CIO/G-6 position, I knew I would be in for one of the most challenging jobs I'd ever had. What I didn't know is that it would also be one of the most rewarding," Lawrence wrote in a farewell blog post on the CIO/G-6 website. "Together, we have created what I sincerely hope will be irreversible momentum in modernizing our Army and leveraging technology to keep us the most capable force in the world."

Lawrence began serving as Army CIO on March 2, 2011. The Iowa native has commanded at every level from platoon to Army Signal Command, according to her bio.

In her time at CIO/G-6, Lawrence championed Army efforts in data center consolidation, network modernization and the transition to enterprise email, a plan she said will save $1.5 billion annually beginning in 2015.

Lawrence also encouraged colleagues to focus on the launch of cyber protection teams.

"We must execute this to standard – it is a no-fail mission," she wrote. "It will take the entire team to achieve this goal. To ensure success, we need to identify the right talent and, as individuals are selected, your support to allow them to transition to the CPTs. Our relevancy depends on getting the CPTs into the force quickly and smoothly."

With Lawrence stepping down, Mike Krieger, deputy CIO/G-6, will take over the top job on an acting basis. Brig. Gen. Joseph Brendler, CIO/G-6 director of architecture, operations, networks and space, is serving as acting deputy CIO.

FCW investigated efforts by the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs to improve a joint data repository on military and veteran suicides. Something as impersonal and mundane as incomplete datasets could be exacerbating a national tragedy.